Wrench and can opener



Nov. 27 1923. 1,475,791

' J. CALLISTA WRENCH AND CAN OPENER Filed June 10. 1922 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

i-"NITED STATES JAMES CALLISTA, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH AND CAN OPENER.

Application filed June 10, 1922. Serial No. 567,355.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES CALLISTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of ennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrenches and Can Openers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide for rotating the metal top of glass fruitjars by means of a wrench provided with a device for pressing the flanges ofthe top into close contact with the usual rubber gasket.

A further object is to provide a wrench which shall include a handle carrying a canopening device for use in cutting the tops of tin cans, the wrench further including a plurality of adjustable elements adapted to engage the metal top of a glass fruit-jar, in such a manner that the gripping effect is produced for rotating the top in one direction, and upon changing the relative position of the gripping element, a similar en- 25 gagement maybe produced for rotating the top in the opposite direction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements de- 30 scribed, illustrated, and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the de vice in side elevation, as applied to a jar top; Fig. 2 is a top plan view; Fig. 3 is a top plan view, the lever being in another position with reference to the jar-top engag ing devices; Fig. 4 is a side elevation, the rotary disk being in engaging position; Figs. 5 and 6 are details of the top-enga ing devices; and Fig. 7 is a section on line T 7 of Fig. 1.

The handle of the device is designated 10, and a cutting blade 11 is mounted near the outer end, an offset portion 12 being provided on the blade and apertured for the accommodation of screws or rivets 13.

A downwardly extending lug 14 provides means for pivotally mounting a disk 15 having a partly rounded edge 16 adapted to engage and press down the soft-metal fiange 17 of the jar top 18, when rotary movement is imparted to the device. The flange 17 1s thus brought into airtight contact with the with reference to the surface vided with a threaded aperture tor the accominodation of a thumb-screw 21.

The gripping aw 24 includes a. pair of engaging devices 25 and 26; and a smaller jaw 27 is provided with one engaging device 28 and with an upwardly extending lug 29. Lever 10 engages this lug as shown in Fig. 2, and positive engagement for permitting rotation of the top is thus provided.

The upper surface of each jaw has a recess therein such as 31 or 32, and each jaw is also provided with an aperture, the apertures registering at a point near the central portion of the top and accommodating a, pin or screw 33 engaged by a nut 34 bearing on the upper surface of the inner end of the handle 10. The pin passes through the slot 10 and by loosening the nut, the handle may be moved inwardly or outwardly with reference to the screw 33.

The thumb-screw 21 may engage either recess 31 or 32, and when screwed down, clamping eiiect between the jaws and the top will be produced. In Figs. 1 and 2 re cess 32 is engaged by the screw, and in Fig. 3 recess 31 is engaged. I

If the handle 10 is moved inwardly until the pin 33 is near the inner end of the slot adjacent to the portion 20, the disk 15 will be caused to engage the outwardly extending flange of the top and press the latter downwardly, upon the rotation of the device, and thereby eiiect an airtight connection when the top is fully screwed down.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a handle, a jaw including a pair of spaced j artop engaging devices, a second jaw including a top engaging device, means for pivot ally connecting the inner portions of the jaws near the center of the top, and a device passing through the handle and adapted to engage either jaw.

2. In a device of the class described, a handle, a jaw including a pair of spaced jar-top engaging devices, a second jaw ineluding a top engaging device, means for mounting the jaws for movement relatiye to each other and to the handle, and means 6 for clamping the jaws with reference to the 3. In a device of the class described, a

handle, a plurality of jar-top gripping jaws mounted thereon, a disk mounted on the handle and rotatable in a plane perpendicular withthe surface of the top, said handle 10 having pin and slot connection with the jaws at a, point near the center of the top.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

JAMES CALLISTA. 

